Joint Europol operation leads to rescue of 11 Arab migrants and arrest of kidnappers

Joint Europol operation leads to rescue of 11 Arab migrants and arrest of kidnappers

A major operation conducted by Europol, in collaboration with Montenegrin and Albanian police forces, has successfully freed 11 Arab migrants who had been held hostage for a ransom of 50,000 euros.

Context

The migrants had been held captive and subjected to abuse in a mountainous area of Montenegro, where they were threatened with weapons by two traffickers demanding ransom for their release. The operation not only resulted in the rescue of the hostages but also led to the arrest of the two kidnappers.

Albanian police provided critical information regarding the location of the hostages and other key details that facilitated the identification of the perpetrators, who were Afghan migrants themselves. Investigations suggest that these individuals, along with two others, may be involved in similar kidnapping incidents in the same region.


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